On the Challenge of Dealing with Diversity

Dear Reader

Starting this year and continuing for the next two years, we will have at least half a dozen additional FAI World Championship classes. In addition, the number of FAI model aircraft competition categories without World Championship status will double during the same period. Although hardly anyone is seriously considering or discussing this yet, this development will present our associations with massive organizational and financial challenges. On top of that, the already small community of competitive model aviators is becoming even more fragmented. However, it would be wrong to view this entire development solely in a negative light; after all, model aviation has changed dramatically in recent years due to the introduction of new technologies. If the FAI were to fail to embrace these new technical possibilities and merely cling to the old ways, it would be disastrous for the sport. Simply eliminating the classic “old” model aircraft categories would be just as wrong and discriminatory. If we take a closer look at the classic events of the FAI World Championships, we’ll discover that new technologies—where the rules allow it—are used just as they are by the younger generation of competitive modelers. The bottom line is that we will have to deal with a wide variety of competitions and championships, with all their advantages and disadvantages. If we finally let go of the competitive mindset and turn our attention to club life, we’ll find that the new, technically almost unlimited diversity has long since found its way there. Today, everything at our airfields is a colorful and unrestricted mix. Helicopters packed with electronics, jets with vector control, super-light launch gliders, large models with and without powerplants, multi-engine aircraft, and so on. A true delight for both the expert observer and visitors alike. However, I must unfortunately also mention the downsides, which have a particularly significant impact on club life: As the diversity of model aviation increases, so does the formation of interest groups. When a model flying group organizes an event in a specific category, members who are not interested in that particular field stay away from the event. In doing so, they prioritize narrow-minded categorization over club cohesion. This is a great loss for our groups and is not only a great pity but also an indication that we have not yet truly learned how to deal with the richness of “modern” model aviation.

Sincerely,
Emil Ch. Giezendanner

The opinions expressed on this page by the editor—as well as by other authors of this issue—do not necessarily reflect the official position of the SMV. Readers can find official association announcements in the “SMV” section.